Fin stacking apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is a fin stacking apparatus, which is configured to stack a fin having a flat-plate shape and a plurality of holes formed therein, including: a suction plate having a plurality of holes and being configured to retain the fin or to cause the fin to fall in accordance with presence or absence of suction through the plurality of holes; a plurality of stacking pins being arranged below the suction plate and configured to be inserted to the plurality of holes of the fin separated from the suction plate; and a stacking pin drive unit configured to rotate at least one of the plurality of stacking pins in a circumferential direction about an axis of the plurality of stacking pins.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fin stacking apparatus configured tostack a fin.

BACKGROUND ART

The term “fin stacking” refers to an action of receiving a fin, which isconveyed from a press machine, through penetration of stacking pins intothe fin to stack the fins. The fin stacking is summarized herebelow. Afin having been delivered from a press machine moves on a suction plate,which has a plurality of holes formed therein, while being sucked by thesuction plate. After the movement of the fin, the fin is cut. Afterthat, the suction plate cancels a suction force so that the fin falls.The fallen fin is received with so-called stacking pins which are barseach having a needle-shaped tip, and fins are sequentially stacked (forexample, see Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2015-164741

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1, there is a casewhere, after the fin falls from the suction plate so that the stackingpins are inserted to the fin, the fin is caught by the stacking pins.For example, a fin having a low rigidity, a long fin being liable todeform, a fin having stacking holes each deviated from a center of thefin, and a fin defining a small clearance between an inner peripheralportion of a stacking hole and an outer peripheral portion of a stackingpin are more liable to cause a contact between the inner peripheralportion of the stacking hole of the fin and the outer peripheral portionof the pin, with the result that the fin is caught by the stacking pinsin some cases.

The present invention has been made to solve the problem describedabove, and has an object to provide a fin stacking apparatus which isconfigured to prevent a fin, which is fallen from a suction plate, frombeing caught by stacking pins when the fin is stacked onto the stackingpins.

Solution to Problem

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda fin stacking apparatus, which is configured to stack a fin having aflat-plate shape and a plurality of holes formed therein, including: asuction plate having a plurality of holes and being configured to retainthe fin or to cause the fin to fall in accordance with presence orabsence of suction through the plurality of holes; a plurality ofstacking pins being arranged below the suction plate and configured tobe inserted to the plurality of holes of the fin separated from thesuction plate; and a stacking pin drive unit configured to rotate atleast one of the plurality of stacking pins in a circumferentialdirection about an axis of the plurality of stacking pins.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

With the fin stacking apparatus according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, the stacking pin is rotated to move a contact pointbetween the inner peripheral portion of the hole of the fin and theouter peripheral portion of the stacking pin, thereby defining aclearance thereat. As a result, after the fin is inserted onto thestaking pins, the fin is prevented from being caught during the fallingmovement onto the stacking pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view for illustrating a fin for use in the fin stackingapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in whichstacking holes are arranged in a staggered manner.

FIG. 3 is a top view for illustrating a fin for use in the fin stackingapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in whichthe stacking holes are aligned in a row direction.

FIG. 4 is a top view for illustrating a fin for use in the fin stackingapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in whichthe fin is divided into adjacent fins along a direction which issubstantially perpendicular to a advancing direction of the fin.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the stacking pin and the fin in the finstacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view for illustrating a case where the fin for use in thefin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention is long in the advancing direction.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the fin stackingapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a fin for use in the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which positionsof stacking holes are deviated from a center.

FIG. 10 is a view for illustrating a state in which the fin is insertedonto the stacking pins for use in the fin stacking apparatus accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention and thereafter the fin fallswith an inclination.

FIG. 11 is a view for illustrating a rotating movement of the stackingpins in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating a case where the fin for use in thefin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention is a deformed long fin.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view for illustrating a rotating movement and an axialmovement of stacking pins in the fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view for illustrating a rotating movement and a horizontalmovement of stacking pins in the fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view for illustrating a rotating movement and a vibratingmovement of stacking pins in the fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 6 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. A fin stacking apparatus 1 ofFIG. 1 includes a suction unit 10 and a fin stacking unit 20 which isarranged below the suction unit 10 (Z-axis). The suction unit 10includes a blower 13, a suction box 12, and a suction plate 11. Thesuction box 12 is arranged below the blower 13. The suction plate 11 isarranged below the suction box 12.

The blower 13 is located at an uppermost part of the suction unit 10,and is configured to perform a suction operation so as to set a negativepressure state in the suction box 12 which is arranged therebelow(Z-axis). The suction box 12 causes a suction force of the blower 13 toact entirely on the suction plate 11. Dampers 25 are arranged on outerwall surfaces of the suction box 12 so as to open and close with respectto an outer side of the suction box 12. In the closed state of thedampers 25, the suction box 12 maintains the negative pressure state inthe suction box 12. In the opened state of the dampers 25, the suctionbox 12 releases an inside of the suction box 12 to the atmosphere tocancel the negative pressure state. The suction plate 11 is arrangedbelow the suction box 12 and has a plurality of holes formed in a lowersurface thereof to suck a fin 30. Further, the lower surface of thesuction plate 11 has grooves (not shown) formed therein. Protrudingportions formed at peripheral edges of stacking holes of the fin 30 arepositioned so as to fit into the grooves, and the fin 30 moves on thesurface of the suction plate 11 in that state.

Now, description is made of the fin 30 which moves while being sucked bythe suction plate 11. FIG. 2 is a top view of the fin for use in the finstacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention,in which the stacking holes are arranged in a staggered manner. FIG. 3is a top view of a fin for use in the fin stacking apparatus accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which the stacking holesare aligned in a row direction. As in the fin 30 of FIG. 2 and a fin 34of FIG. 3, the fin 30 and the fin 34 conveyed from a press machine 2 ofFIG. 1 are divided along a direction which is parallel to a advancingdirection 55 (X-axis). Further, the fin 30 and the fin 34 have stackingholes 32 along the advancing direction 55 (X-axis) at predeterminedintervals.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a fin for use in the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which the fin isdivided into adjacent fins along a direction which is substantiallyperpendicular to the advancing direction of the fin. As in a fin 35 ofFIG. 4, the fin 35 conveyed from the press machine 2 of FIG. 1 isdivided along a direction which is parallel to the substantiallyperpendicular direction (Y-axis) with respect to the advancing direction55 (X-axis). Further, the fin 35 has stacking holes 32 along thesubstantially perpendicular direction (Y-axis) with respect to theadvancing direction at predetermined intervals.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. With reference toFIG. 5, description is made of the fin stacking unit 20 of FIG. 1 inwhich the fin 30 separated from the suction plate 11 is stacked. The finstacking unit 20 of FIG. 1 includes a base 21, an elevator 24, and aplurality of stacking pins 23. The elevator 24 is arranged above thebase 21. The stacking pins 23 are arranged so as to penetrate throughthe elevator 24 and have respective needle-shaped tips oriented upwardin the Z-axis. Further, stacking pin drive units 22 are arranged at basebottom portions of the stacking pins 23 on the base 21. The fin 30fallen in a vertical direction 54 from the suction plate 11 is stackedonto the stacking pins 23 arranged below (Z-axis) the suction plate 11.The stacking pins 23 are located immediately below stacking holes 32 ofthe fin 30. Each stacking pin 23 has a diameter slightly smaller thanthat of the stacking hole 32 and has a length corresponding to a stackheight of the fin 30. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the stacking pin andthe fin in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention. The fin 30 has stacking holes 32 and protrudingportions 33 formed at respective peripheral edges of the stacking holes32. A tip of each stacking pin 23 has a tapered shape so that the fin 30can easily be guided downward at the time of insertion of the fin 30onto the stacking pin 23. Thus, a clearance 44 is defined between anouter peripheral portion of the stacking pin 23 and an inner peripheralportion of the stacking hole 32 of the fin 30.

The stacking pin drive unit 22 is configured to rotate the stacking pin23 about an axis of the stacking pin, for example, at a constant speed.The rotating direction and speed of the stacking pin drive unit 22 arecontrolled by a controller 4. A rotating direction 53 of FIG. 5 is aclockwise direction, but may be a counterclockwise direction. Thestacking pin drive unit 22 is constructed by, for example, a motor. As amethod of mounting the motor, for example, the motor is mounted to eachstacking pin 23. Alternatively, the stacking pins 23 in the advancingdirection (X-axis direction) of the fin 30 or in the direction which issubstantially perpendicular to the advancing direction of the fin 30 maybe coupled to each other through intermediation of a pulley, a gear, achain, and other member to simultaneously rotate the plurality ofstacking pins 23 by one motor.

The elevator 24 is positioned around an upper portion of the stackingpins 23, and is lowered so that an uppermost surface of stacked fins 31is maintained at a certain height position. A sensor is provided, and atthis time, the elevator 24 is controlled in accordance with an outputfrom the sensor. The elevator 24 repeats movement of being lowered by apredetermined distance after a preset number of fins 30 fall.

FIG. 7 is a view for illustrating a case where the fin for use in thefin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention is long in the advancing direction. The fin 30 when the lengthof the fin 30 is increased in the advancing direction (X-axis) as inFIG. 7, or the fin 30 when having a low rigidity such as in the casewhere the thickness of the fin 30 is reduced is more liable to deformwhen the fin 30 falls along the stacking pins 23, with the result thatthe fin 30 is more liable to be caught by the stacking pins 23. In thiscase, the number of stacking pins 23 is increased in accordance with theincreased length of the fin 30 as in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the fin stackingapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Theoperation is described based on FIG. 8 with reference to FIG. 1.

First, the blower 13 starts suction (Step S1). Next, the stacking pins23 start rotation about an axis direction (Step S2). The rotation of thestacking pins 23 is started at the same timing as the start of suctionby the blower 13. The rotation of the stacking pins 23 is not stoppeduntil stacking is completed, and the rotation continues always in acertain direction and at constant speed. Next, the press machine 2 isactivated (Step S3), and the fin 30 is delivered (Step S4). Thedelivered fin 30 moves under a state of being sucked by the blower 13onto the lower surface of the suction plate 11 (Step S5). The fin 30delivered to a predetermined length is cut by a cutoff unit 3 (Step S6).At substantially the same timing as the cutting, the suction plate 11 islowered in the vertical direction (Step S7). Immediately after thelowering, the dampers 25 are opened to release the inside of the suctionbox 12 to the atmosphere to restore the pressure inside the suction box12, thereby cancelling the suction force generated on the suction plate11 (Step S8). After that, the fin 30 falls in the vertical direction(Step S9), and the suction plate 11 is raised (Step S10). The fin 30 isguided so that the stacking pins 23 penetrate through the stacking holes(Step S11), and is placed on the elevator 24 (Step S12). The elevator 24is positioned around the upper portion of the stacking pins 23, and thefallen fins 30 are sequentially stacked thereon. At this time, thestacking pins 23 are rotated, thereby preventing the fin 30, which isguided so that the stacking pins 23 penetrate therethrough, from beingbrought into contact with and caught by the stacking pins 23 duringfalling along the stacking pins 23. Further, at this time, the uppermostsurface of the stacked fins 31 is detected by a sensor (not shown) (StepS13), and the elevator 24 is lowered (Step S14) so that the uppermostsurface of the stacked fins 31 is maintained at a certain position. Theabove-mentioned operation is repeated to proceed the stacking.

As described above, when the fin 30 is guided by the stacking pins 23and falls along the stacking pins 23, the stacking pins 23 are rotated,thereby preventing the fin 30 from being brought into contact with andcaught by the stacking pins 23 during falling. As a result, sequentiallyreceived fins 30 can be moved to a predetermined position and stackedthereat without delay, thereby stacking the fin 30 with good alignment.That is, according to the related-art invention, a fin deviated from acenter as illustrated in FIG. 9 and a fin which falls with aninclination as illustrated in FIG. 10 are sometimes caught by thestacking pins. With the fin stacking apparatus according to the presentinvention, the rotating movement of the stacking pins in the finstacking apparatus is performed, thereby preventing the fin from beingbrought into contact with and caught by the stacking pins during fallingof the fin.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a fin for use in the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in which positionsof the stacking holes are deviated from a center. A fin 36 has stackingholes 32 along the advancing direction 55 (X-axis) at predeterminedintervals. The line A-A connecting center points of the stacking holes32 is deviated from the center line B-B in a width (Y-axis) in theadvancing direction of the fin 36, and the positions of the stackingholes 32 are deviated from the center. FIG. 10 is a view forillustrating a state in which the stacking pins are inserted to the finfor use in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention and thereafter the fin falls with an inclination.According to the related-art invention, there is a case where the fin 36which is deviated from the center as illustrated in FIG. 9 or the finwhich falls with an inclination as illustrated in FIG. 10 is inclined ordeformed during falling in the vertical direction 54 along the stackingpins 23, with the result that the inner peripheral portion of thestacking hole 32 and the outer peripheral portion of the stacking pin 23are brought into contact with each other to catch the fin.

FIG. 11 is a view for illustrating the rotating movement of the stackingpins in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention. When the fin 30 is guided by the stacking pins 23 andfalls in the vertical direction 54 along the stacking pins 23, thestacking pins 23 are rotated in the rotating direction 53 about an axisdirection. As a result, the fin 30 can be prevented from being broughtinto contact with and caught by the stacking pins 23 during falling.

FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating a case where the fin for use in thefin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention is a deformed long fin. For the fin such as the deformed fin30 of FIG. 13 which is liable to be caught, a rotational speed being areference for the stacking pins 23 rotating at constant speed in therotating direction 53 may be changed to deal with the catching.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, the rotational speed of the stacking pins 23 isconstant. Next, in Embodiment 2, description is made of a case where therotational speed of the stacking pins 23 is changed. Parts having thesame configuration as those of the fin stacking apparatus of FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols, and descriptionthereof is omitted. The configuration and operation of the fin stackingapparatus itself is unchanged, and only the control method for thestacking pins 23 is changed for use. The rotation speed of the stackingpin drive units 22 is controlled by the controller 4.

The fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 2 is configured sothat the rotation of the stacking pins 23 is stopped until the stackingpins 23 are inserted to the fin 30. Basically, it is necessary that apreceding fin 30 be stacked with respect to the stacking pins 23 withoutbeing caught before the stacking pins 23 are inserted to a next fin 30.Thus, as long as the fin 30 can be stacked without being caught, thereis no need to rotate the stacking pins 23 during the movement of the fin30 before the insertion of the stacking pins 23. In view of this, therotation of the stacking pins 23 is stopped until the stacking pins 23are inserted to the fin 30, and the rotation of the stacking pins 23 isset to a first set rotational speed when the stacking pins 23 areinserted to the fin 30. The first set rotational speed is stored inadvance or is determined by the controller 4 based on data detected by asensor (not shown) which is configured to detect a moving speed or aposition of the fin 30.

As described above, when the fin 30 is guided by the stacking pins 23and falls along the stacking pins 23, the stacking pins 23 are rotated,thereby preventing the fin 30 from being brought into contact with andcaught by the stacking pins 23 during falling. Thus, the sequentiallyreceived fins 30 can be moved to the predetermined position and stackedthereat without delay, thereby stacking the fins 30 with good alignment.Further, the rotation of the stacking pins 23 is stopped before the fin30 is inserted to the stacking pins 23, thereby reducing powerconsumption of the apparatus itself.

Embodiment 3

In Embodiment 1, the rotational speed of the stacking pins 23 isconstant. Next, in Embodiment 3, description is made of a case where therotational speed of the stacking pins 23 is changed. Parts having thesame configuration as those of the fin stacking apparatus of FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols, and descriptionthereof is omitted. The configuration and operation of the fin stackingapparatus itself is unchanged, and only the control method for thestacking pins 23 is changed for use. The rotation speed of the stackingpin drive units 22 is controlled by the controller 4.

In the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 3, until thestacking pins 23 are inserted to the fin 30, the rotational speed of thestacking pins 23 is set lower as compared to the rotational speed at thetime of insertion to the fin 30. For example, in a case where aconveyance speed for conveyance of the fin 30 by the press machine 2 isincreased, time for feeding of the fin 30 is shortened. Along with this,time for elimination of catching of the fin 30 is also shortened. Inthis case, it is necessary to shorten time required for the stackingpins 23 to reach a target rotational speed, to thereby secure sufficienttime for elimination of the catching. As a countermeasure, the stackingpins 23 are rotated in advance at a second set rotational speed beforethe stacking pins 23 are inserted to the fin 30, and the stacking pins23 are rotated at the first set rotational speed when the stacking pins23 are inserted to the fin 30. The second set rotational speed is lowerthan the first set rotational speed. The first set rotational speed andthe second set rotational speed are stored in advance or are determinedby the controller 4 based on data detected by a sensor (not shown) whichis configured to detect a moving speed or a position of the fin 30.

As described above, when the fin 30 is guided by the stacking pins 23and falls along the stacking pins 23, the stacking pins 23 are rotated,thereby preventing the fin 30 from being brought into contact with andcaught by the stacking pins 23 during falling. Thus, the sequentiallyreceived fins 30 can be moved to the predetermined position and stackedthereat without delay, thereby stacking the fins 30 with good alignment.Further, the rotational speed of the stacking pins 23 is set lowerbefore the stacking pins 23 are inserted to the fin 30, thereby reducingthe power consumption of the apparatus itself and shortening timerequired to reach the target rotational speed. Such a configuration candeal with the rise in conveyance speed for conveyance of the fin 30 bythe press machine 2.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 13 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a view forillustrating a rotating movement and an axial movement of the stackingpins in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of thepresent invention. In the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment1, stacking is performed under the state in which the stacking pins 23are rotated at a constant speed and always in the same direction. In thefin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 4, stacking is performedunder a state in which stacking pins 123 are repeatedly moved up anddown in an axial direction 57 while the stacking pins 123 are rotated.In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, parts having the same configuration as those ofthe fin stacking apparatus of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are denoted by the samereference symbols, and description thereof is omitted. The configurationand operation of the fin stacking apparatus 1 itself is unchanged, andonly the control method for the stacking pins 123 is changed for use.

The stacking pins 123 are moved up and down in the axial direction 57 bya vertical direction drive mechanism 26. As a mechanism of moving thestacking pins 123 in the axial direction 57, there may be employed, forexample, a motor driving through use of a crank, or a power cylinder.The driving speed and driving width are stored in advance or determinedby a controller 5 based on data detected by a sensor (not shown) whichis configured to detect a moving speed and a position of the fin 30.

The movement in the axial direction 57 is not performed before insertionof the stacking pins 123 to a fin 130 but performed after insertion ofthe stacking pins 123 to the fin 130. Then, the movement in the axialdirection 57 is stopped immediately before the next fin 130 falls. Forexample, the movement is started at a timing after the suction plate 11is lowered and returns to an upper limit of rise. Further, the movementis stopped at a timing after the fin 130 is fed by a preset length onthe suction plate 11. This is because positions of the stacking pins 123and the stacking holes 132 need to be registered when the stacking pins123 are to be inserted to the fin 130. The axial movement of thestacking pins 123 is performed for all of the installed stacking pins123. This is because the catching can be eliminated faster when therotation and axial movements are performed by all of the stacking pins123.

As described above, when the fin 130 is guided by the stacking pins 123and falls along the stacking pins 123, the stacking pins 123 are rotatedand axially moved, thereby preventing the fin 130 from being broughtinto contact with and caught by the stacking pins 123 during falling. Asa result, the sequentially received fins 130 can be moved to thepredetermined position and stacked thereat without delay, therebystacking the fins 130 with good alignment.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 15 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 5 of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a view forillustrating a rotating movement and a horizontal movement of stackingpins in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of thepresent invention. In the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment1, stacking is performed under the state in which the stacking pins 23are rotated always in the same direction. In the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 5, stacking is performed under a state in whichstacking pins 223 are repeatedly moved in a horizontal direction 58while the stacking pins 223 are rotated. In FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, partshaving the same configuration as those of the fin stacking apparatus ofFIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference symbols, anddescription thereof is omitted. The configuration and operation of thefin stacking apparatus itself is unchanged, and only the control methodfor the stacking pins 223 is changed for use.

The stacking pins 223 are moved in the horizontal direction 58 by ahorizontal direction drive mechanism 27. As a mechanism of moving thestacking pins 223 in the horizontal direction 58, there may be employed,for example, a motor driving through use of a crank, or a powercylinder. The driving speed and driving width are stored in advance ordetermined by a controller 6 based on data detected by a sensor (notshown) which is configured to detect a moving speed and a position ofthe fin 30.

The movement in the horizontal direction 58 is not performed beforeinsertion of the stacking pins 223 to a fin 230 but performed afterinsertion of the stacking pins 223 to the fin 230. Then, the movement inthe horizontal direction 58 is stopped immediately before the next fin230 falls. For example, the movement is started at the timing after thesuction plate 11 is lowered and returns to the upper limit of rise.Further, the movement is stopped at a timing after the fin 230 is fed bya preset length on the suction plate 11. This is because positions ofthe stacking pins 223 and the stacking holes 232 need to be registeredwhen the stacking pins 223 are to be inserted to the fin 230. Thehorizontal movement of the stacking pins 223 is performed for all of theinstalled stacking pins 223. This is because the catching can beeliminated faster when the rotation and horizontal movements areperformed by all of the stacking pins 223.

As described above, when the fin 230 is guided by the stacking pins 223and falls along the stacking pins 223, the stacking pins 223 are rotatedand horizontally moved, thereby preventing the fin 230 from beingbrought into contact with and caught by the stacking pins 223 duringfalling. As a result, the sequentially received fins 230 can be moved tothe predetermined position and stacked thereat without delay, therebystacking the fins 230 with good alignment.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 17 is a front view of a fin stacking apparatus according toEmbodiment 6 of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a view forillustrating a rotating movement and a vibrating movement of stackingpins in the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of thepresent invention. In the fin stacking apparatus according to Embodiment1, stacking is performed under the state in which the stacking pins 23are rotated always in the same direction. In the fin stacking apparatusaccording to Embodiment 6, stacking is performed under a state in whichstacking pins 323 are vibrated while the stacking pins 323 are rotated.In FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, parts having the same configuration as those ofthe fin stacking apparatus of FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are denoted by the samereference symbols, and description thereof is omitted. The configurationand operation of the fin stacking apparatus itself is unchanged, andonly the control method for the stacking pins 323 is changed for use.

The stacking pins 323 are vibrated by a vibration generating mechanism28. As a mechanism configured to vibrate the stacking pins 323, theremay be employed a vibration generating device of, for example, anelectric type, a hydraulic type, or a pneumatic type. The driving speedand driving width are stored in advance or determined by a controller 7based on data detected by a sensor (not shown) which is configured todetect a moving speed and a position of the fin 30.

The vibrating movement is not performed before insertion of the stackingpins 323 to the fin 330 but performed after insertion of the stackingpins 323 to the fin 330. Then, the vibrating movement is stoppedimmediately before the next fin 330 falls. For example, the movement isstarted at the timing after the suction plate 11 is lowered and returnsto the upper limit of rise. Further, the movement is stopped at a timingafter the fin 330 is fed by a preset length on the suction plate 11.This is because positions of the stacking pins 323 and the stackingholes 332 need to be registered when the stacking pins 323 are to beinserted to the fin 330. The vibrating movement of the stacking pins 323is performed for all of the installed stacking pins 323. This is becausethe catching can be eliminated faster when the rotation and vibratingmovements are performed by all of the stacking pins 323.

As described above, when the fin 330 is guided by the stacking pins 323and falls along the stacking pins 323, the stacking pins 323 are rotatedand vibrated, thereby preventing the fin 330 from being brought intocontact with and caught by the stacking pins 323 during falling. As aresult, the sequentially received fins 330 can be moved to thepredetermined position and stacked thereat without delay, therebystacking the fins 330 with good alignment.

The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to Embodiments1 to 6 described above, and various modifications can be made thereto.For example, positions of the controllers 4 to 7 may be set asappropriate, and may be arranged in, for example, the suction unit 10.Further, the vertical direction drive mechanism, the horizontaldirection drive mechanism, and the vibration generating mechanism arearranged for each stacking pin, but may be collectively arranged for aplurality of stacking pins. Further, the vertical direction drivemechanism, the horizontal direction drive mechanism, and the vibrationgenerating mechanism may be used in combination.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 fin stacking apparatus 2 press machine 3 cutoff unit 4        controller 5 controller 6 controller 7 controller 10 suction        unit    -   11 suction plate 12 suction box 13 blower 20 fin stacking unit        21 base 22 stacking pin drive unit 23 stacking pin 24 elevator        25 damper 26 vertical direction drive mechanism 27 horizontal        direction drive mechanism 28 vibration generating mechanism 30        fin 31 stacked fins 32 stacking hole 33 protruding portion 34        fin 35 fin 36 fin 44 clearance 53 rotating direction 54 vertical        direction 55 advancing direction 57 axial direction 58        horizontal direction 123 stacking pin 130 fin    -   132 stacking hole 223 stacking pin 230 fin 232 stacking hole 323        stacking pin 330 fin 332 stacking hole

1. A fin stacking apparatus configured to stack a fin having aflat-plate shape and a plurality of holes formed therein, comprising: asuction plate having a plurality of holes and configured to retain thefin when suction through the plurality of holes is executed, and tocause the fin to fall when suction through the plurality of holes is notexecuted; a plurality of stacking pins arranged below the suction plateand configured to be inserted to the plurality of holes of the finseparated from the suction plate; and a stacking pin drive unitconfigured to rotate at least one of the plurality of stacking pins in acircumferential direction about an axis of the at least one of theplurality of stacking pins.
 2. A fin stacking apparatus configured tostack a fin having a flat-plate shape and a plurality of holes formedtherein, comprising: a suction plate having a plurality of holes andconfigured to retain the fin when suction through the plurality of holesis executed, and to cause the fin to fall when suction through theplurality of holes is not executed; a plurality of stacking pinsarranged below the suction plate and configured to be inserted to theplurality of holes of the fin separated from the suction plate; astacking pin drive unit configured to rotate at least one of theplurality of stacking pins in a circumferential direction about an axisof the at least one of the plurality of stacking pins; and a controllerconfigured to control the stacking pin drive unit; wherein the fin moveson the suction plate, and wherein the controller controls the stackingpin drive unit to rotate the at least one of the plurality of stackingpins at a second set rotational speed until the fin is arranged at aposition of separation, and to rotate the at least one of the pluralityof stacking pins at a first set rotational speed when the plurality ofstacking pins are inserted to the fin.
 3. A fin stacking apparatusconfigured to stack a fin having a flat-plate shape and a plurality ofholes formed therein, comprising: a suction plate having a plurality ofholes and configured to retain the fin when suction through theplurality of holes is executed, and to cause the fin to fall whensuction through the plurality of holes is not executed; a plurality ofstacking pins arranged below the suction plate and configured to beinserted to the plurality of holes of the fin separated from the suctionplate; a stacking pin drive unit configured to rotate at least one ofthe plurality of stacking pins in a circumferential direction about anaxis of the at least one of the plurality of stacking pins, and acontroller configured to control the stacking pin drive unit; whereinthe fin moves on the suction plate, and wherein the controller controlsthe stacking pin drive unit to stop rotation of the at least one of thestacking pin until the fin is arranged at a position of separation, andto rotate the at least one of the plurality of stacking pins at a firstrotational speed when the plurality of stacking pins are inserted to thefin.
 4. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising avertical direction drive mechanism configured to reciprocally drive theplurality of stacking pins in an axial direction of the plurality ofstacking pins.
 5. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a horizontal direction drive mechanism configured toreciprocally drive the plurality of stacking pins in a horizontaldirection of the plurality of stacking pins.
 6. The fin stackingapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vibration generatingmechanism configured to vibrate the plurality of stacking pins.
 7. Thefin stacking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stacking pin drive unitis further configured to rotate all of the plurality of stacking pins.8. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a verticaldirection drive mechanism configured to reciprocally drive the pluralityof stacking pins in an axial direction of the plurality of stackingpins.
 9. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 2, further comprising ahorizontal direction drive mechanism configured to reciprocally drivethe plurality of stacking pins in a horizontal direction of theplurality of stacking pins.
 10. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 2,further comprising a vibration generating mechanism configured tovibrate the plurality of stacking pins.
 11. The fin stacking apparatusof claim 2, wherein the stacking pin drive unit is further configured torotate all of the plurality of stacking pins.
 12. The fin stackingapparatus of claim 3, further comprising a vertical direction drivemechanism configured to reciprocally drive the plurality of stackingpins in an axial direction of the plurality of stacking pins.
 13. Thefin stacking apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a horizontaldirection drive mechanism configured to reciprocally drive the pluralityof stacking pins in a horizontal direction of the plurality of stackingpins.
 14. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 3, further comprising avibration generating mechanism configured to vibrate the plurality ofstacking pins.
 15. The fin stacking apparatus of claim 3, wherein thestacking pin drive unit is further configured to rotate all of theplurality of stacking pins.